East Girls Track Collects Medals at Invitational, North Up Next

The Sachem East Girls Track team opened its Invitational season with the 40 team Suffolk Coaches Invitational at Bay Shore High School on Saturday.

Standout performances were turned in by Essence Sterling, Rachel Paul, Brittany Sepe, Diamond Jackson, Brenna McGuire, and Jayda Allen, and a summary of the days' medalists follows. As an early season Invitational, there was no team scoring but medals were presented to the top 6 athletes in both running and field events for 3 categories'; Open, Intermediate, and Frosh.

In the 400 Intermediate Hurdles Ally Figalora placed 5th (70.10) in the Open Division, with Maddy Egan taking 4th in the Intermediate Division (75.90). Essence Sterling placed 5th in the Open 100, clocking 12.99 in the trials. Rachel Paul placed 3rd in the Open 400 (59.84), and won the Open 800 (2:18.83), Brenna McGuire just missed scoring with a 5:19 1500, and Jayda Allen was 5th in the Frosh Soph 400 (63.25). In relay action the 4 by 400 squad of Laurie Semetsis, Melanie Notarstefano, Ally Figalora, and Essence Sterling grabbed 4th in 4:13.68. The 4 by 800 quartet of Danielle Vasquez, Shannon O'Hehir, Katie Hempfling, and Jayda Allen finished 5th in 10:15.53.

Sachem East also brought home lots of hardware in the field events. Sam Maurice and Alyssa Naer tied for 4th in the Intermediate High Jump (4'6") to lead the jumping crew. The throwers had an outstanding day beginning with the Shot, where Brittany Sepe (36'7.25"), Diamond Jackson (35'2.5"), and Gabby Trejo (35'2"), placed 1,3,4 in the Open Division. Sidney Treanor (28'11"), and Taylor Kern (27'8.25"), were 2nd and 3rd in the Intermediate Shot with Frosh Caitlyn Raftice just short of scoring but throwing 25'1". Jackson and Sepe then both threw over 100 feet to take 2nd and 3rd in the Open Discus, with Pam Emengo (84'7") and a fast improving Elora Phillips (84'6"), going 2,3 in the Intermediate Discus.

The last event of the meet was the highly anticipated, but rarely contested, 4 by 800 Racewalk Relay. Sachem East again demonstrated why its' Racewalk squad is considered the best in the nation as the quartet of Amanda Catherall, Julia Anderchuck, Val Auciello, and Kelly Maranchuck (16:32.62) narrowly edged Holly Lindoe, Stefania Carbone, Sarah LaPorta, and Alyssa Furlani (16:38.32) to place 1st and 2nd, with 3rd place almost a minute behind.

Sachem East hosts the powerhouse Sachem North team this Wednesday at 4 p.m. in what promises to be a real nail bitter as both East and North are both ranked in the top 10 on Long Island by the Nassau/ Suffolk Track Coaches Association.

Article courtesy of Pete McNeill, Sachem East girls track coach